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what you eat and monitor your intake of processed foods, fat, salt, and sugar. And there’s no time like the new year to get started with this healthy habit.” Hoffmann understands firsthand how drastically healthy food choices can positively impact a person’s health. After being diagnosed with lupus, Hoffmann’s research led her to embrace an alkaline diet that has helped her get off of medicine and live a “delicioso” life. Hoffmann’s new book, Latin Comfort Foods Made Healthy, is full of the Latin recipes you love, all of which follow the American Diabetes Association’s nutrition guidelines. Not only are the recipes fast and simple to prepare, they are delicious as well. Be sure to incorporate some of these tasty dishes into your home cooking rotation! Are you ready to start the new year off right with more homecooked meals? Follow these tips from Hoffmann and the ADA to help you get cooking in 2019!
Make sure you have the essential tools. To start cooking regularly, you
Are you ready to start the new year off right with more homecooked meals? Follow these tips from Hoffmann and the ADA to help you get cooking in 2019! -Make sure you have the essential tools. -Build an herbs and spices collection. -Create a weekly meal plan. -Keep it simple (mostly). -Hit the market. -Do your prep work in advance. -Start bagging your lunch. -Start a weekly batch cooking habit. -Pull out the pressure cooker.
really need only a few basic tools. Make sure you’ve got a sharp knife, a vegetable peeler, a cutting board, a colander, a skillet, a large pot, a roasting pan, and a baking dish or two. A pressure cooker is also handy for preparing quick meals on busier days. With these foundational pieces, you can make a wide array of dishes. (Don’t worry; you can always stock up on more kitchen supplies later on.)
Build an herbs and spices collection. Spices and herbs, dried or fresh, bring your food to life in a way that nothing else can. And you don’t have to buy out the entire seasoning aisle to cover the
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basics. Start with cumin, paprika, garlic, onion powder, oregano, chili powder, turmeric, ginger powder, cinnamon, and adobo seasoning. For herbs, try cilantro, parsley, mint, rosemary, and basil. Hint: If you don’t want to keep buying store-bought fresh herbs, try growing your own in your garden or in a windowsill box.
Create a weekly meal plan. Meal planning is simply a system of choosing your meals in advance. By selecting several recipes that contain similar ingredients, you can get more use out of your groceries and reduce food waste. Flip through your favorite cookbooks to choose several recipes that sound good and start a grocery list for the week. Keep it simple (mostly). “Remember, you don’t have to cook extravagant dinners every night of the week,” says Hoffmann. “You’ll get just as much satisfaction from a simple dinner of grilled fish and veggies as you would from an elaborate multi-course feast. Save the ‘fancy’ dinners for special occasions and you’re sure to keep up with your new healthy home cooking habit.” Hit the market. You can’t cook without
ingredients, so go to the grocery store armed with a list of every item you’ll need to cook healthy meals in the upcoming week. Some people like to shop for the entire week while others prefer making more frequent tips. Over time you’ll figure out what works best for you and your family. When you’re planning and shopping, focus on in-season fruits and veggies (they’ll be fresher and are often less expensive). Also, keep an eye out for good deals on cuts of lean meat that you can purchase and freeze for later.